This Minnesota House bill (H.F. No. 1736), authored by Representative Clardy, focuses on early childhood education and literacy. It includes amendments to the state's kindergarten entry assessment process and establishes early childhood literacy pilot programs. Key provisions include:

1. Kindergarten Entry Assessment (Amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, Sec. 124D.162):

   • The Commissioner of Education must implement a standardized kindergarten entry assessment to evaluate the readiness of incoming kindergartners.
   • School districts and charter schools must select an assessment tool from an approved state list.
   • The Department of Education must provide technical assistance and professional development to support implementation.
   • The reporting requirements align with broader school performance and civic readiness assessments.
   • The assessment policy will be phased in over three years, with full implementation by the 2026-2027 school year.

2. Early Childhood Literacy Pilot Programs:

   • The Commissioner of Education must convene an expert panel consisting of literacy and early childhood education specialists to review research and recommend strategies to improve literacy.
   • The panel will identify best practices in family engagement, curricula, professional development, instructional methods, and assessment strategies.
   • Pilot programs based on these recommendations will be implemented in diverse early learning environments such as public pre-kindergarten programs, Head Start programs, licensed child care centers, and family home settings.
   • An independent research organization will evaluate the pilot programs to determine their effectiveness in improving literacy outcomes.
   • The Commissioner must conduct annual public reviews of the pilot programs and submit recommendations by February 1, 2029, for broader literacy program implementation.

3. Funding and Appropriation:

   • $3,500,000 is appropriated from the general fund to support the pilot programs, including implementation, evaluation, and review.
   • The funding is a one-time allocation and is available until June 30, 2029.

The bill aims to strengthen early literacy education by ensuring kindergarten readiness, testing evidence-based teaching methods, and expanding successful models statewide.